Cigar and tobacco moistener.



Patented May 28', |90l. W. ST. CLAIR.

CIGAR AND TUBACCO MOISTENER.

rApplicaton lad Oct. 16, 1900.)

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WESLEY ST. CLAIR, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CIGAR AND TOBACCO MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 674,943, dated May 28, 1901. Application filed October 16, 1900. Serial No. 33,202. (No model.)

To all whom, if may concern:

Be it known that I, WESLEY ST. CLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county7 of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar and Tobacco Moisteners, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to devices employed forsupplying moisture to receptacles containing cigars, tobacco, or other goods which might be aected by evaporation; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In this device is comprised a vessel containing liquid in which is suspended a portion or portions of one or more sheets of absorbent material, the remainder of the sheet or sheets projecting into the air, whereby provision is made for the liquid being drawn upwardintoand permeatingtheunsubmerged portions of the absorbent material and from thence diused into the surrounding atmosphere. The absorbent material will preferably be formed into sheets with contracted portions which enter the liquid and enlarged portions which project into the atmosphere, so that the diffusive surface is greatly enlarged and the efficiency of this device thereby correspondingly increased.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device complete. Eig. 2 is a sectional side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan View.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention this deviceis shown consisting of a vessel or receptacle A for the Water or other moistening liquid, which will preferably be suspended in the show-case or other receptacle for the goods to be moistened. I have shown the vessel Aprovided with a suspension-Wire B', attached to the vessel A and ending in a hook B2, by which it may be suspended; but any means of suspension may be employed.

D represents a series of sheets of absorbent material, such as blotting-paper, formed with contracted lower ends, fitting into the vessel and immersed in the liquid therein, and extended upper portions, and preferably with metal bindings D2 on the upper ends, as shown. The metal bindings each inclose a wire a, one end of each Wire being extended laterally, as shown.

E' is a circular metal plate or disk supported centrally above the vessel A, as by the Wire support B', and provided with a series of holes b near its rim, into which the eX- tended ends of the Wire a of the absorbent sheets D' are adapted to be inserted, as shown. The absorbent sheets are thus supported in a uniform radiating position, as shown, so that an extensive surface of the absorbent material is provided in a comparatively contracted area. The absorbent material thus provides a vehicle through which the liquid will rise from the vessel A and be constantly absorbed by the surrounding atmosphere, and thereby permeate the atmosphere surrounding the goods, Which are thus exposed to its influence, and imparting to the goods the requisite moisture. The wires a are merely inserted into the holes in the plate E', which will thus hold them with sufficient force to retain them in place,while at the same time leaving them free to be removed When required for renewal or repairs.

The absorbent sheets may be of any suitable material which will readily absorb the liquid in the vessel, such as ordinary heavy blotting-paper, ornamented in any manner desired. The sheets may also be of any desired shape orin any fanciful design and may be advantageously employed as an advertising medium.

The metal bindings D2 add stiffness to the absorbent sheets and cause them to retain their shape when charged with the water which they have absorbed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a moistening device, a receptacle for the moistening liquid, a series of sheets of absorbent material each with one end immersed in the said liquid and With the other ends projecting into the atmosphere, a Wire connected to the upper end ofsaid absorbent sheets and each wire with an extended end, a disk connected to said receptacle and with perforations near its margin to receive said extended endsof said Wires, whereby said absorbent sheets are supported in radiating relations to said receptacle and plate, substantially as set forth.

and may be ofany color or IOO 2. In a moistening device, a receptacle for the moistening liquid, a series of sheets of absorbentv material each With one end irnmersed in the said liquid and with the other- 5 ends progeeting into the atmosphere, a metal binding inclosing the upper Aedge of each sheet, a. Wire inolosed by each metal binding and with one end of each Wire extended, a, disk connected to said receptacle and with 1o perforations near its margin to receive said 

